live together
The carriage fell silent, save for the slight vibrations of the engine that traveled gently to the seats. You Jiale fidgeted nervously with her hands on her knees, wanting to say something, but the words stuck in her throat like a fishbone, refusing to come out.
He could feel the gaze of Boss Zhang in the back seat, as if glued to his back, falling on him every now and then. The gaze wasn't sharp, but it was like fine threads, suffocating him, making him even more cautious with his breathing.
Finally, the stifling silence was broken by a soft voice: "Don't go back for the time being."
"...Huh?" You Jiale turned around abruptly as if burned, her face still showing a blank expression. "Not going back? Then where are we going?"
"Yunyin Hall." Zhang Xiande remained sitting upright, his voice as calm as if he were commenting on the weather. "You can move in here. The guest room is empty; just tidy it up."
You Jiale was almost moved to tears. He'd never seen a real gun in his entire life, not even in his two lifetimes combined. "You're really something," he thought to himself, feeling like this old fox was shining brightly today.
But my situation is already so bad, it can't get any worse. I might as well just go with the flow.
Zhang Xiande turned his head and glanced at him. "Given your current situation, it's not safe for you to live alone." His tone left no room for argument.
Zhang Xiande turned his face back to look ahead, his tone calm, "If anything happens again, I can't possibly be there every time." When he said this, his eyes were quite indifferent, but he still managed to make people feel a calm pressure that said, "Don't cause me any trouble."
"So, after I move in, are you planning to have me report to you at the dinner table?" You Jiale forced a somewhat ingratiating smile, trying to ease the oppressive atmosphere with a joke.
"No matter how attentive you are, you won't get a raise." Zhang Xiande's lips seemed to twitch slightly.
You Jiale chuckled awkwardly, then lowered her voice and asked, "Then...should I go back and pack some things first?"
Zhang Xiande said in a nonchalant tone, "Just have someone go and get it."
By the time they arrived at Yunyin Hall, it was already the dead of night. The courtyard was quiet, and the lamplight cast a soft glow. The servants, having received their orders, worked swiftly and quickly prepared a guest room. You Jiale was still standing at the door, stunned.
"Get some rest," Zhang Xiande said in a low voice, then strode away, his back straight.
"Okay, boss!" You Jiale called out to the retreating figure, her tone tinged with helplessness.
As soon as the door closed, You Jiale stood there for a while and let out a long sigh.
He knew in his heart that he was being watched "more closely."
To his surprise, this sense of security from being "watched" actually made him feel much more at ease.
In the first few days after moving into Yunyin Hall, You Jiale secretly wondered if she should pretend to sunbathe in the courtyard every day, and take the opportunity to familiarize herself with the Zhang family's territory, so that she could use it if she really had to run away one day.
But he soon discovered that this was not a place he could escape from as easily as he thought. The place was shrouded in a strict atmosphere, and the servants, though they looked friendly, were very alert.
So he simply resigned himself to adjusting his schedule, and his mindset became much more peaceful as a result. Rather than thinking about those unnecessary things, it was better to just stay put. In this chaotic era, being able to eat a hot meal and having someone watching you to prevent trouble doesn't seem like... a bad thing.
Steam rose from the dining table in Yunyin Hall, filling the air with a fragrant aroma.
With a beaming smile, Mrs. Zhang picked out a glistening piece of sweet and sour pork ribs from the plate and placed it in You Jiale's bowl. Her tone was as if she were addressing her most beloved youngest son: "Little You, this is something you were raving about last time, so the kitchen lady made extra. Eat more." Mrs. Zhang's warmth touched You Jiale's heart.
You Jiale blinked, his mouth widening into a grin that made his eyes crinkle into crescents. "Oh my, Madam, you're so good to me. If I keep eating like this every day and living here for a while, I'm afraid I'll really turn into a young master who only knows how to eat and doesn't do any work." He said this with a hint of joking, trying to liven up the atmosphere.
“You’re not cut out for hard labor,” Mrs. Zhang said cheerfully, placing another piece of fish into his bowl. “You have such a charming mouth. Xiande, look at the people you’ve chosen—sweet-talking, capable, and sensible.” As she spoke, Mrs. Zhang gave her son a meaningful look.
Zhang Xiande, who had been sipping his soup slowly with his head down, barely lifted his eyelids upon hearing this, only glancing at You Jiale out of the corner of his eye. The man was engrossed in gnawing on a piece of pork rib, his cheeks bulging and a little soup still clinging to the corner of his mouth, looking quite pleased with himself.
"You have a sweet tongue," Zhang Xiande said in a flat tone, as if talking to himself, but his hands were not idle. He picked up a piece of white and tender tofu and casually put it into You Jiale's bowl.
You Jiale looked up, paused for a moment, rolled her eyes, then quickly recovered and replied with a smile, "Oh, Xiao You, I really envy you, being able to work with such a considerate boss."
"I'll choke you to death," Zhang Xiande replied calmly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Watching the two of them go back and forth, Mrs. Zhang couldn't stop smiling. Pointing at them, she joked, "Oh my, if Xiande had someone like Xiao You to accompany him in the future, I could really put my mind at ease."
You Jiale had just taken a sip of tea when she heard this and almost spat it out. She coughed violently, tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly put down the bowl and frantically wiped her mouth.
Zhang Xiande didn't even look up, continuing to drink his soup, his tone carrying a hint of disdain: "Stop talking nonsense."
Mother Zhang covered her mouth and laughed, giving Zhang Xiande a meaningful look. The smile in her eyes deepened, and she didn't continue the topic.
Night fell, and warm lights shone in the room.
Yu Jiale, carrying several documents, was about to turn and head to the study when she saw the butler, Uncle Cai, carrying two steaming bowls of late-night snacks—sweet-looking white fungus and lotus seed soup, with a small dish of delicate pastries beside it, the aroma wafting into her nostrils. Uncle Cai was an old man of Yunyin Hall, having watched Zhang Xiande grow up since childhood. For many years, he had served the old lady, managing Yunyin Hall with impeccable order, practically a member of the Zhang family.
"Uncle Cai, is this for the boss?" You Jiale greeted Uncle Cai with a smile, her tone tinged with curiosity.
The butler looked up and saw it was him. His face immediately lit up with a kind smile, and he replied cheerfully, "Oh, it's Xiao You. This was specially prepared for you two by the old lady. Mr. Zhang is still busy in his study. If you go over there now, you can eat with him." The butler said this so naturally.
You Jiale had only asked casually, but who knew the old butler's words had a hidden meaning? You felt like he was about to explode. How could these elders possibly portray him, a perfectly upright and straight man, in such a way?!
But he couldn't show it on his face, so he quickly reached out and took the tray, saying with a serious expression, "Then I'll take it in for you. It's my duty to serve the boss."
Seeing You Jiale turn to leave, the old butler quickly called out to him, "Oh dear, young You, Mr. Zhang is usually very busy with official duties, always on his feet, and rarely comes home. There's no one to take good care of him. Now that you're here, the old lady is much happier. Since you arrived, the house is much more lively, not as quiet as before." The butler paused, then added with a pleading tone, "When Mr. Zhang is too busy, I'll have to ask you to take extra care of him in the future."
Yu Jiale: ...
—Yunyin Hall is bustling, but why is You Jiale's life becoming more and more like a melodramatic gay novel?
He carried a late-night snack and several reports to the study door. Just as he raised his hand to knock, before his fingertips even touched the door, he heard Zhang Xiande's deep voice from inside: "Come in." His hearing is incredible!
"How did you know it was me?" He pushed open the door and walked in, shrugging his shoulders with a hint of helplessness on his face. "I haven't even touched the door yet."
Zhang Xiande didn't even look up, his wolf-hair brush still moving across the paper, the tip making a soft scraping sound as it touched the rice paper. "You drag your feet when you walk; the floor creaks." This old fox, his observation skills are truly extraordinary.
"Oh my, with your ears, it's a real shame you're not a spy." You Jiale carefully placed the late-night snack on the table beside her. "Here, I brought you some white fungus and lotus seed soup that the old lady specially made."
"Still practicing calligraphy so late?" You Jiale moved his late-night snack to the corner of the desk, leaned closer to look at the characters Zhang Xiande was writing, and said, "Your calligraphy... tsk tsk, you could probably sell it for a high price in the market." He was always quick-witted and sarcastic.
Zhang Xiande didn't look up, clearly used to his habit of talking nonsense. "Sycophant." He put down his pen, took out a clean sheet of Xuan paper, carefully covered the still-wet ink stain, and then looked up at You Jiale, his tone questioning, "Is something wrong?"
“Oh, let me report on the latest developments at ‘Leji’,” You Jiale said, gently placing the documents in her hand on the table with a hint of pride in her voice. “Orders have increased by another 20% in the past few days, and I’m preparing to recruit another batch of new staff to supplement our workforce.”
Zhang Xiande simply gave a soft "hmm," his gaze lingering on his face for a moment, as if scrutinizing something. "How's your rest lately?"
"Huh?" You Jiale was taken aback, not expecting Zhang Xiande to suddenly ask this. He touched his face, feeling a little embarrassed. "It's...it's alright."
"Your dark circles are practically touching the ground," Zhang Xiande said with a hint of concern.
"Well...you know how tough starting a business is." You Jiale scratched the back of his head. "But living here...it's definitely much safer to sleep here than outside."
Zhang Xiande stared at him for a few seconds, his eyes deep. After a moment, he looked away and pointed to the tray in You Jiale's hand, "Eat the other bowl too."
Looking at the bowl of steaming white fungus soup, You Jiale suddenly had a slightly irritating thought and boldly said, "Boss, I will definitely be devoted to you."
"Heh." Zhang Xiande's tone carried a barely audible chuckle. "Let's go for a walk after we finish eating."
The moonlight was perfect, and the breeze was gentle.
You Jiale was still holding a string of candied oranges he hadn't finished eating. The sweet and sour taste spread in his mouth as he slowly followed behind Zhang Xiande, popping the oranges into his mouth one by one. The two walked one after the other.
His mouth never stopped, as if talking to himself, or as if deliberately speaking to the person in front of him: "Hey, this Yunyin Hall is really comfortable to live in. The air is good, the food is good, and even the owner is a good person. It's just that it's a little too quiet." He smacked his lips on the dried orange in his mouth, feeling that life was pretty good.
Zhang Xiande, who was walking ahead, paused slightly. With his back to the moonlight, his expression was obscured. He simply turned his head and glanced at You Jiale indifferently: "Is it quiet with you here? You're always chattering away, your mouth never stops." His tone was slightly disdainful.
Xiao You didn't take these words to heart. Her eyes even curved into two crescent moons as she smiled and said, "I'm just helping you get rid of your loneliness, isn't that great?" As she spoke, she winked at Zhang Xiande, giving him a "praise me" look.
Zhang Xiande didn't say anything more, but turned around again and continued walking forward, his pace still unhurried and steady.
You Jiale quickly caught up half a step, leaned closer to Zhang Xiande, and muttered in a low voice, "If I say I talk too much, you complain that I'm noisy; if I say I don't talk, you always stare at me... Boss, do you think I'm up to something?" He secretly observed Zhang Xiande's reaction as he spoke.
"Haven't you been holding back something all this time?" Zhang Xiande suddenly turned his head slightly, his eyes seemingly glancing at You Jiale's face.
Zhang Xiande's glance made You Jiale stumble and almost trip over the stone pavement. He quickly regained his balance, raising his seemingly harmless but actually cunning fox-like smile, and said innocently, "Oh dear, I'm innocent! Don't you know who I am? Besides, my life is firmly in your hands." His words were half true and half false, with a hint of flattery.
Zhang Xiande suddenly stopped, turned around, and faced You Jiale. His voice was lower and more inquisitive: "Are you afraid of me?"
You Jiale blurted out, "The mark of an adult is to see through things but not say anything." After saying that, she gave Zhang Xiande a slightly ingratiating smile.
Looking at his sly appearance, Zhang Xiande couldn't help but smile slightly, chuckled, and then, unusually, reached out and gently tapped You Jiale's forehead with his slender fingertips, with a hint of teasing.
The two looked at each other in the moonlight, their eyes meeting as if they were having a silent conversation.
The moonlight, like water, spilled into the courtyard of Yunyin Hall, casting long shadows of the two people, one in front of the other. Then, slowly, they leaned together side by side, appearing silent and lingering.
Sometimes, You Jiale would wake up at night, lying on the clean, even somewhat unfamiliar, large bed in Yunyin Hall, the soft blankets covering him, yet he always felt an emptiness in his heart. At these times, he couldn't help but think of the locked box that Zhang Xiande had taken.
To be precise, it was that locked box—the one Zhang Xiande had put away, which he didn't know where it was now, but which still weighed heavily on his heart like a stone.
Since taking the lockbox that day, Zhang Xiande had never mentioned it again. Nor had he pressed him for more information about it. However, when it was time to keep an eye on him, Zhang Xiande's gaze remained sharp, and when it was time to test him, the veiled meaning in his words was just as sharp.
Yet, it was precisely this state of silence, where everything was understood without words, that caused You Jiale to feel a vague unease mixed with a sense of disbelief that even she found somewhat unbelievable—
"He must be starting to believe me a little bit now," You Jiale thought to herself as she turned over in the darkness, gazing at the bright moonlight outside the window.
Living together in Yunyin Hall, the two share a secret. The relationship between You Jiale and Zhang Xiande is undergoing subtle changes, like a new bud quietly peeking out in spring, seemingly weak, yet full of vitality.
The nights at Yunyin Hall are always quiet.
Zhang Xiande sat at his desk, the warm yellow light from the lamp beside him casting a soft glow on the pages between his fingers. He turned the pages of letters in his hand.
But the conversation kept replaying in my mind.
My initial interest in him stemmed from his "eccentricities"—he was both intelligent and confused, and his behavior was often unpredictable and erratic.
But the more I got to know him, the more I realized that he was not a simple person.
He kept it well hidden, yet seemed to deliberately leave some clues, luring him to investigate, think, and test.
Zhang Xiande told himself more than once:
If what he said is true, then what he carries on his shoulders is probably not just another dangerous identity, but a storm that could have far-reaching consequences.
He helped You Jiale put away the locked box, both as a form of protection and as a warning.
—Your secret is in my hands. I could crush you with ease.
But at the same time, he admitted to himself:
I don't want to crush this person.
However, that "trust" was not enough to make him completely let down his guard.
He needs more reasons, more clues, and more definitive answers.
Unfortunately, the closer he got, the more Yu Jiale became like a fog—visible, but impossible to grasp.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
